If there’s one thing board gamers are required to like, it’s reading. Like may be better replaced with “tolerate”, but, either way, you’re going to have a tough time getting through the rules of a board game without some interest in reading. At least the new Settlers of Catan novelization offers more than, “Roll dice. Count results. Play your piece.”

Originally written in German (the headquarters of all things board game), The Settlers of Catan by Rebecca Gable takes the general premise of the game and expands it to a Lord of the Flies-style epic that follows Candamir and Osmund as they attempt to construct a society amid conflict with the locals on the island of Catan.

Heroclix has been branching out from the superhero genre this year, the newest edition of which just happens to be Lord of the Rings. Making it simple to drop into the game, Heroclix has released an Epic Campaign Starter Set that gives prospective players everything they need to get into the game. That means eight miniatures, maps, rules, tokens, dice, and character cards. But if you want to continue on from there, you can expand your miniature forces by picking up individual blind booster boxes. With 21 possibilities in all, you can find yourself being Lord of the Rings…cause Heroclix have ring bases…get it…huh?

Get your space jam on with Star Hero, the newest everything sci-fi edition of Hero System. Within this volume you’ll find all the rules and structural elements to create the very best space, sci-fi, futuristic game you’ve ever taken part in. That includes (as they say on the back) sections on creating characters, fleshing out your universe based off the latest real world discoveries, technology and weapons, and psionics and time travel. You’ll be hunting down intergalactic smugglers in your Mark V star cruiser in no time.

It’s that time again. Time for another Resident Evil Deck Building Game expansion. This time Bandai has dubbed it Resident Evil: Nightmare. Like previous expansions, Nightmare needs to be combined with the base game or Alliance for it to be played. What it adds to either version of the game are new actions, characters, weapons, and infected cards. This time around these include the Mine Thrower, Luis Serra, and the infected boss Osmund Saddler. Along with the new cards, this expansion is contained within a box big enough to fit every previous edition of the game while also including dividers to separate your cards.

If you’re one of those Pathfinder players who wishes the GM would skip over all those boring story beats and, instead, get to the fighty fighty, then Conflict Games has granted your wish. Completely compatible with the Pathfinder Core Rulebook and any 3.5 system, Conflict Roleplaying is a battle game that allows single players or teams to face off against each other in vicious combat. This base edition includes maps pre-generated characters, maps, and rules for play. Combine with the recently released Pathfinder miniature set for the complete package.

The trains are running on time thanks to the new expansion for Steam. Steam Barons adds two new maps to the base game along with the ability to expand the game for five or six players. More than that, the expansion adds a complete new set of rules that add a stock market element to the game where players can buy or sell shares in the railway companies. On top of all this, the expansion also includes a mass of train miniatures.

Incorporating elements from video games, Risk Legacy introduces new elements to the game as you complete objectives, not over the course of one game, but every game you ever play. That’s right, each time to play a game of Risk Legacy the rules alter, factions are removed or added, and the map is reshaped. What you choose to do in one game may effect a future game. Primarily, this comes into play with the LOCKED rules cards that stay sealed until you complete the objective written on the front. A Risk game unlike any other, Risk Legacy gives the power to not just conquer the world, but reshape it.

Asara lets players explore their inner architect as everyone races to create the most awe inspiring towers in the city. Pull your building blocks from various rare materials in an effort to build the most embellished structure, thus gain prestige and the favor of the ruling class. But construction isn’t your only concern as you can also thwart your fellow architects from completing their masterpieces. A family game at heart, Asara should fall in with the likes of Samarkand, Settlers of Catan, and Carcassonne.

How about a little restock blurb to mix things up? The first expansion to the base game, Okko Yakuza Hazu Akai offers nine new playable characters (mostly Yakuza mercenaries) to be played in the base game as well as their matching player stat cards. Five new equipment cards are also included.

Wealth of Nations: Clouds of War is yet another expansion (kinda the trend tonight), this time for the original Wealth of Nations game. Running off the second edition rule set, Clouds of War introduces a slew of new tiles among various rule options for faster play, two player games, and optional game alterations.

Want to know your fortune? That’s what the new Harrow Deck for Pathfinder Chronicles will tell you. Both a deck of cards for telling fortunes in any roleplaying setting as well as a gambling-based card game, the Harrow Deck includes 54 harrow cards and 5 divination reference cards.

The most recent deck expansion for the Legend of the Five Rings card game, Second City features three new clan decks. These three include decks for the Scorpion, Dragon, and Mantis clans.

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